Signaling system



June 23, 1925. 1,542,847

R. S. BAILEY SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed May 10, 1922 ,wve/vfors Band I 5. Bm/ey Patented June 23, 1925.

'UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE.

RAND S. BAILEY, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK. V

SIGNALING SYSTEIW.

Applicationfiled May 10, 1922. Serial No. 559,868.

T 0' all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAND S. BAILEY, residing at Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain Improvements in Signaling Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in signaling systems and has particular reference to improved methods and means for controlling the operation of signaling devices employed with telephone transmission lines.

In systems wherein a transmission line is terminated at a plurality of operators positions with which are associated a plurality of signaling devices such as lamps that are lighted when said line is seized to indicate to the various operators that a call is awaiting attention, it may sometimes occur, particularly during extremely busy periods, that a call remains unanswered by the operators for a slight period of. time.

An object of the present invention is to avoid the delay in answering calls by changing within a predetermined period of time following the seizure of a transmission line, the condition of the. signaling devices in a manner which will be readily noticeable to the operators.

Another object is to control through a mechanism common to a plurality of transmission lines, a change in condition of signaling devices associated with one of said lines after a lapse of a predetermined period of time following the seizure of said line.

The above and other objects will more clearly appear from the following detailed description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

In the drawing, A indicates one of a plurality of transmission lines serving a group of subscribers lines one of which is shown at B. In order that a small number of transmission lines may be made to serve a relative large group of subscribers lines, selective switches are preferably used for joining a subscribers line to one of the transmission lines. These switches may be either line switches or line finders. In the present embodiment a line finder conventionally shown at G is employed. This line finder may be of the same type as that illustrated and described in the patent to Charles L. Goodrum, No. 1,231,013 issued June 26, 1917, although it is to be expressly provided at her position with a number of cord circuits D which may be of any type well known in the art. Only so much of the cord circuit D is shown asis essential to a complete understanding of the invention.

When the transmission line A is seized, the multipled, line lamps 3 and 4 are lighted and glow steadily but if the call is not answered by an operator within a predetermined period of time following the seizure of said line, the invention provides means for flashing or intermittently operating the line lamps to attract the attention of an operator. This means preferably comprises an interrupter 5 having a notch or depression 6 and a projection 7 for operating a switch 8 adapted to close contacts 9 and 10. The interrupter 5 is common to a plurality of transmission lines such as A so that the multipled line lamps of the various lines may be controlled therefrom. In practice, it is proposed to operate the interrupter at such a speed that the same will become effective to flash the line lamps of a transmission line within a minimum time of approximately two seconds and a maximum time of approximately four seconds following the seizure of the line. The interrupter 5 directly controls the operation of two relays 11 and 12, the latter relay being partly under the control of the former and both relays being adapted to control the transmission line relay 13. In the operationof the system, when the relay 13 is energized under the control of relay 11 and relay 12 is operated, the operation of the latter relay renders the interrupter 14, individual to line A, effective to flash the lamps 3 and 4. The windings of the relay 13 are of such a high resistance that when an operator responds to the flashings of the lamps by inserting the plug 15 of a cord circuit D into one of the jacks, said windings are shunted by the repeating coil 16 of the cord circuit and said relay 13 then releases to cause the release of relay 11 which is locked under the control of relay 13. The interruptei's and then become ineffective and the lamps 3 and 4 are extinguished.

It is believed that, with the foreging brief description of the o aeration in mind, the invention will be fully understood from the following'detailed description of the operation. v

\Vhen the subscriber at substation B initiates a call by removing the receiyer from its switch hook," the line relay 116 is energized over an obvious circuit and in closing its contacts 117, 118, establishes a circuit ex tending from battery through the left hand winding of relay 116, left hand contact of relay 120 conductor 121, contacts 117., 118, conductor (1, left hand contact of relay a and winding of relay c to ground. Relay vc operates and grounds the start conductor 1'30 common to the line findersserving the group of lines in which the substantion B is located. As fully described in the above mentioned patent, the grounding of the start conductor 130 initiates the operation of an idleline finder, such as C, associated with the line A. The brushes of the switch C are then wiped over the associated terminal bank to which the subscribers lines are multipled and upon engagement with the terminals of the line of substation B a. circuit is established over conductor 113 by apparatus forming a part of the line finder which results in the energization of the cut-off relay 120 and consequent release of linere'lay 116 following which ground is removed from the common start conductor 130 by the release of relay 0. The brushes of the line finder are then brought to rest upon the terminals of the calling subscribers line.

An obvious circuit is now established for the line relay 13 of the transmission line A. extending through the left hand contacts of cut-off relay 12. The closure of the left hand contact of relay 13 connects ground to the winding of relay 11 which is under the control of the interrupter 5. With the switch 8 in the position shown in the. drawing it will be obvious that relay 11 does not operate at this time. The closure of the outer right hand contact of relay 13 connects ground from the outer right hand normal contact of relay 12 through said contact of relay 13 and from thence through thevarious m'ultipled line lamps, such as 3 and 4-, to grounded battery. The lamps 3 and a are lighted to indicate to the operators before whom these lamps appear that a call is awaiting attention on line A. If an operator immediately responds to this call by inserting the plug 15 of the cord circuit D into jack 1, for instance, a circuit is established for the supervisory relay 20 of the cord circuit extending from grounded battery through the lower left hand winding of repeating coil 16, the winding of relay 20, the ring'contacts of plug 15 and jack 1, the lower side of transmission line A, the middle brush and engaged terminal of switch O, substation apparatus B, the upper brush and engaged terminal of switch C, theupper side of line A, tip contacts of ack 1 and plug 15, and the upper left hand winding of the repeating coil 16 to ground. Relay 20 energizes in this circuit to close a circuit extending from grounded battery through resistance 21, contact of relay 20, the resistance 22, sleeve contacts of plug 15 and jack 1, and the left hand winding of cut-off relay 12 to ground. The supervisory lamp 23 is also included in this circuit in parallel with resistance 21, but the relation of the lamp to said resistance is such that the lamp will fail to light. The relay 12 is energized in the circuit through its left hand winding and in opening its left hand contacts immediately causes the release of line relay 13. The opening of the outer right hand contact of the latter relay causes the extinguishment of the line lamps 3 and 41. The relay 12 remains operated as long as a cord circuit is connected to jack 1 and thus prevents any further operation of the relay 13.

At the termination of a call the replacing of the receiver upon the switch hook at substation B causes the release of the supervisory relay 20, whereupon lamp 23 is lighted to indicate to the operator that the line A is no longer in use.

releases cut-off relay 12 to restore the apparatus associated with line A to its normal condition. y

If, following the energization of relay 13 and the subsequent lighting of line lamps 3 and 1, a predetermined period of time should elapse before an operator responds to the call by inserting the plug of a cord circuit into one of the jacks, the interrupter 5 will 3? then become effective to control the flashing of the line lamps. With the interrupter in the position shown in the drawing and r0 tating in a clockwise directionithe contact 9 is first closed by the engagement of the projection 7 with a portion of the switch 8 to connect battery to said contact, but inasmuch as the relay 11 is not at this time op erated the connection of battery to the contact 9 has no effect. Immediately following the closure of the contact 9, contact 10 is closed by engagement of a portion of switch 8 with the notch or depression 6 of the interrupter, whereupon a circuit is established from groui'lded battery through the swi'tch 8 The operator then .withdraws the plug 15 from jack 1 and thus tact 9 is closed to establish a circuit extend ing from grounded battery through switch 8 and contact 9, the'outer left hand alternate contact of relay 11, the inner normal con- 'tact'and right hand winding of relay 12, and the inner right hand contact of relay 13 to ground. The closure of this circuit operates the cut-off relay 12 which thereupon locks in an obvious circuit. The operation of relay 12 opens at its left hand contacts the original energizing circuit for relay 13, but this relay is now maintained energized through the right hand contacts'of relay 11 and the energization of relay 12 has therefore, no effect upon the relay 13. When the outer right hand alternate contact of relay 12 is closed the interrupter 14 is then-connected in a circuit extending from ground through a conducting segment of the interrupter when such interrupter is in such position, the outer right hand alternate contact of relay 12, the outer right hand contact'of relay 13 and from thence to grounded battery through the lamps 3 and 4:. The condition-of the lamps is now changed by the intermittent interruption of this circuit by the interrupter 14: and said lamps are caused to flash to attract the attention of an operator. When an operator then responds to a call by inserting plug 15 into one of the jacks the supervisory relay 20 is energized'as previously described, but no effect is produced on the relay 12 since this relay is now energized and locked. The connection of a cord circuit to line A through one of the acks causes the repeating coil 16 'of' the cord circuit to shunt the high resistance windings of the line relay 13' through the'right hand contacts of relay 11. Relay 13 thereupon releases to permanently open the circuit for the lamps 3 and 4 and opens the locking circuit of relay 11 whichthereuponreleases. The release of relay 13 also opens the locking circuit of relay 12. but this relay now remains energized through the previously described circuit ex tending through the left hand winding of. said relay. The release of the connection is accomplished in the same manner as hereinbefore set forth.

What is claimed is: V

1. In a signaling system, a transmission line, an operators position, a signaling device thereat for said line for indicating the arrival of a call, means for operatln said signaling device upon seizure of said line,

- and means for changing the character of operation of said signaling device after the lapse of-a predetermined period of time followingsaid seizure.

2. In a slgnahng system, an operators position, a transmission line, a signaling device at said position individual to said line, means for operating said signaling device upon seizure of said line, and means for changing the character of operation of said signaling device within a predetermined period of time following said seizure.

3. In a signaling system, an operators. p0 sition, a transmission line, a signaling device at said position individual to said line, means for operating said signaling device upon seizure of said line, and means for operating said signaling device in a characteristic manner afterthe lapse of a predetermined period of time following said seizure.

4. In a signaling system, an operatoris position, a transmission line, a signaling device at said positionindividual to said line, means for operating said signaling device upon seizure of said line, and means operable within apredetermined period of time'following said seizure for actuating said signaling'device in a characteristic manner.

5. In a' signaling system, an operators position, a transmission line, a signaling'device at said position individual to said line, means for operating said signaling device upon seizure of said line, and means for intermittently operating said] signaling device after the lapse of a predetermined period of t me following said seizure.

6. In a signaling system, a transmission line, a signaling device, means for operating said signalingdevice upon seizure of said line, and means operable within a predetermined period of time followingsaid seizure for intermittently actuating said signaling device. g

7 In a signaling system, an operators position, a transmission line, a signaling'device at said position individual to said line, means for operating said signaling device upon seizureof said line, and an interrupter mechanism for operating said signaling device after the lapse of a predetermined period of time following said seizure. V

8. In a signaling system, an operators position, a transmission line, a signaling device at said position individual to said line, means for operating said. signaling device upon seizure of said line, and an interrupter mechanism operable within a predetermined period of time following'said seizure for actuating said signaling device.

9. In a signaling system, a transmission line, an operators position at which said line terminates, a lamp at said position, means for operating said lamp upon seizure of said line, and means for changing the. condition of said lamp after. the lapse of a predetermined period of time following said seizures: i

10. In a signaling system, a transmission line, an operators position at which said lineterminates, a lamp at said position, means for operating said lamp upon seizure of said line, and means for operating said lamp in a characteristic manner after the lapse of a predetermined. period of time following said seizure.

11. In a signaling system, a transmission line, an operators position at which said line terminates, a signaling device at said position, means for operating said signaling device upon seizure of said line, and means for intermittently operating said signaling device after the lapse of a pre determined period of time following said seizure.

12. In a signaling system, a plurality of operators" position, a transmission line, signaling devices individual to said line at said positions. means for operating said devices upon seizure of said line, and means for changing the condition of said signaling devices after the lapse of a predetermined period of time following said seizure.

13. In a signaling system, a transmission line, a plurality of signaling devices for said line, means for operating said devices upon seizure of said line, and means for changing the condition of said signaling devices within a predetermined period of time following said seizure.

14:; In a signaling system, a transmission line, a plurality of operators positions at which saidv line terminates, a lamp at each position, means for operating said lamps upon seizure of said line, and means for changing the condition of said lamps after the lapse of a predetermined period of time following said seizure.

15. In a signaling system, a transmission line, an operators position at which said line terminates, a lamp at said position operable upon seizure of said transmission line, two interrupters, and means under the control of one of said interrupters for rendering the other interrupter effective to change the condition of said lamp.

16. In a signaling system, a transmission line, an operators position at which said line terminates, a lamp at said position operable upon seizure of said transmission line, two interrupters, and means under the control of one of said interr-upters for rendering the other interrupter effective to operate said lamp in a characteristic manner after the lapse of a predetermined period of time following the seizure of said line.

17. In a signaling system, a transmission line, a line relay for said line, a second relay controlling said line relay, a signaling vdevice under the control of said relays and operable upon seizure of said transmission line, means for operating the second named relay after the lapse of a predetermined period of time following said seizure, and means for thereupon operating said signaling device in a characteristic manner.

18. In a signaling system, a transmission line, a line relay for said line, a second relay controlling said line relay, a signaling device under the control of said relays and operable upon seizure of said transmission line, an interrupter for operating said sec ond relay after the lapse of a predetermined period of time following said seizure, and a second interrupter for thereupon operating said signaling device in a characteristic manner.

19. In a signaling system, a plurality of transmission lines, a signaling device for each line, means operableupon seizure of one of said lines for actuating the signaling device associated therewith, and means common to said transmission lines for controlling the operation of said signaling device in a characteristic manner after the lapse of a predetermined period of time following the seizure of said line. I

20. In a signaling system, a plurality of transmission lines, a signaling device for each line, means operable upon seizure of one of said lines for actuating the signaling device associated therewith, and interrupters for controlling the intermittent operation of said signaling device within a predetermined period of time following the seizure of said line, one of said interrupters being common to said lines, and the other being individual to the seized line.

21.- In a telephone system, a calling line, a line lamp therefor, means for operating said lamp in one manner when a subscriber initiates a call, and means for operating said lamp in a. different manner after the lapse of a certain period of time.

22. In a telephone system, a calling line,

a line lamp therefor, means for operating said lamp in one manner when a subscriber initiates a call, and means for operating said lamp in adifferent manner if the call is not answered within a certain length of time.

28. In a telephone system, a calling line, a plurality of operators positions, a lamp for said line at each of said positions, means responsive to the seizure of said line by the subscriber for causing said lamps to light in one manner, and means operative after the lapse of a period of time to cause said lamps to light in a different manner.

24. In a telephone system, a line, alamp therefor, a circuit completed when the subscriber on said line intiates a call to light said lamp in a characteristic manner, and means for altering the circuit of said lamp to light it in a different manner if the call is not answered after the lapse of a predetermined period of time.

25-11 a s n l n system; a t an miseiq line, a signaling device therefor, a source of current, means responsive to the seizure of said line for causing the steady application of current from said source to said signaling device, and means operable after a predetermined period oftime following said seizure for causing the .intermittent application of current .from said source to said signaling device.

26. In a signaling system, a transmission line, automatic switches for extending the line to an operators position, a signaling device thereat, a first relay adapted to com trol the operation of said signaling device when a call is extended to said position over said line, a timing device, a second relay jointly controlled by said timing .device and said first relay, and a third relay jointly controlled by said timing device and said second relay, said third relay being adapted when operated to change the condition of said signaling means.

27. In a signaling system, a transmission line, automatic switches for extending said line, an operators position at which said line terminates, signaling means thereat, a line relay, means associated therewith for operating said signaling means upon seizure of said line, means operable at a predetermined period of time following said seizure for intermittently actuating said signaling means, and means controlled at said operators position for causing said relay to re-' store said signaling means to normal.

In: testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 5th day of RAND S. BAILEY.

May 1922. 

